I live in a six unit condominium complex that happens to be very dog friendly. I've been here seven years and there has always been one or two dogs in the complex but I became a dog owner only two years ago. About the same time I (owner number 1) got my puppy, one of the other owners (owner number 2) got a new puppy and another owner (owner number 3) moved in with a new puppy. The association, all of the sudden, had three new dogs in the building. Fortunately, two owners with dogs moved out so there was only a one dog net gain. We had an adjustment period when the yard got trashed and poop went too long without being picked up but everything is OK now. I ended up re-landscaping the yard and building a dog-run so the neighbors are now happy because the yard is much nicer than when we started. It was a muddy patch with nowhere to sit but now we have a patio, flowers and nice bushes. My boyfriend and I spend a lot of time maintaining it mostly because I am aware of the fact that the other neighbors are nice enough to put up with our dogs so I feel like I need to give a little back to the association. Also, I just quit drinking and need something to do at 7:00 am on Saturday but that's another story.

Anyway, the problem is dog owner number 3. She hasn't always been the most conscientious of the owners when it comes to picking up after her dog but that is something I can live with. The real problem is her bringing other dogs in to the complex to visit or stay with her. Last year, she got the hair-brained scheme in her head that she wanted to be a dog foster parent so she took in a couple dogs temporarily until they where adopted. The other neighbors and I put up with this scheme for a while until we had to put our feet down, due to noise and extra mess in the complex. She, reluctantly, agreed that it was probably a bad idea.........

Fast forward to now...Now she feels it is a good idea to bring her friends dog over to visit and sit during the day. This is a real problem as the visitor dog and my dog don't get along in the least. As a matter of fact, they want to kill each other. The problem is, they are both dominant females so they have had a few nasty fights before we figured out they weren't going to be friends. Also, my dog is somewhat territorial with new dogs in "her house" as she is part Shar-Pei. Unfortunately, we had to put up with this visitor dog for two months while her owner stayed with my neighbor while she was in between apartments. We had to keep the dogs separated for two months and it drove my dog crazy knowing her "arch nemesis" was on the property. It caused he a lot of stress and caused her to spend a lot of time "guarding" the door. Also, we had a few "accidents" when the dogs met in the yard due to carelessness of my neighbor. In one incident, my dog ended up with a hole in her ear and another time my boyfriend ended up with a scratch on his arm and a torn pair of pants. These dogs mean to kill each other.

Now, Arch Nemesis's owner lives only a block away so my neighbor feels like it is OK to bring the dog over for "visits" as long as we "are very careful" and keep them separated. A couple weeks ago, she brought the dog over again not knowing my back door was ajar. Well, IT WAS ON. Luckily, I heard the fight (not a pretty sound) and came out to find the neighbor on her ass with the two dogs fighting on top of her. It was awful but I was able to get them separated. The dogs didn't receive any injuries but my neighbor ended up with a real nice bruise on her ass.

Do you think she would learn from this??? No. After the last major fight, I sent her a nice email asking her not to bring the dog over anymore. I pointed out that it was a only a matter of time before it happened again and/or one of the dogs (or people) got seriously injured.

RIGHT OVER HER HEAD! FUCKING CLUELESS.

The other day, she had the nerve to call me to ask if I could secure my dog while she brought "Arch Nemesis" up the back stairs to visit her house. Luckily, I wasn't home to answer or else I would have let her have it. I know she did, in fact, have the dog over yesterday because we saw it leave via the front stairs (in violation of a condo rule brought about by her being inconsiderate with the foster dogs) last night.

I'm torn about what to do. I already tried reason and being nice. I guess I have two choices.

1. Keep it between her and I and get ignorant with her which would be unfortunate because we have been rather friendly (drinks, dinners out, parties etc.) with her and the other neighbors.

2. Get the other owners involved and start passing additional rules and/or banning that specific dog from the property. This option will be unfortunate as well because additional rules always ruin things for people who are actually considerate. I'm sure the other owners will side with me as they are pretty fed up with her shit.

Either way I'm going to lose a relationship with her as a friendly neighbor. I figure I am not losing much because she is rather inconsiderate. I would much rather be on friendly terms with my neighbors so this is going to suck. I know she is going to act like a child when it is all said and done and she doesn't get her way.

After you politely said that the dog should never come back is the moment she stopped being a friend. She deliberately and selfishly chose to ignore your request. I'm assuming that deliberate selfishness is a friendship deal breaker for you? Don't feel guilty about it. Sometimes it's when we have conflicts that people's true colors show.

I too am a dog owner and my Sister in Law has a dog that permanently scarred my sweet Chihuahua. The dog is nice to people but she is never welcome in my home again. Since that dog isn't even your neighbor's there is no excuse for her choice. I'd say email one more time and then take it up with the rest of the condo assoc. Your doggie has just as much a right to feel at home as you do.

The safety issue aside, I kind of feel guilty about bringing up the fact that my dog is stressed but she really is stressed when that dog is here. We were glad to see her go when she left because we had to put up with our dog pacing the hallway and sniffing under the door with her hair up. I'm sure the neighbor below us wasn't too thrilled.

Face it, she's selfish. Seems like you've bent over backwards for her. She's the proverbial camel with its foot in the tent.

Perhaps you might suggest dog obedience classes for the Arch Nemesis. If you're so inclined, call an "animal communicator" and find out the problem. Animal communicators are sort of like psychics, but seem to be incredibly tuned into animals. I've used one before, and she was pretty darn amazing.

Your dog is no doubt living in high anxiety when Arch Nemesis shows up. This can eventually lead to health problems. Priorities, priorities.

I don't know if it is an obedience issue with either dog. I assume they would fight until they establish dominance but one of the dogs would end up missing an ear or eye or worse. The first fight they had was a knock-down-drag-out fight. I wasn't there but they said it took 5 people to pull then apart.

I figured since Arch Nemesis doesn't live here we would keep them separated to avoid any risks.

All the disadvantages of apartment living, and all the disadvantages of home ownership...

Maybe your dog could rip the windpipe out of the other one?Sorry, but I don't have any constructive help for dealing with your selfish obliviotron neighbour, just sympathy.... Bet they voted for Bush and drive a big SUV, too, right?

I gave him a copy of "Lies and the Lying Liars". That, and Bush's first debate. He called me during the debate and said, "dude, Bush is a fucking idiot". True story. Initially, he fell for bush's social security schemes.

Re: the condo. Unfortunately, I live in Chicago and the average house price is like 800k in my neighborhood. Also, we are kind of attached to this place and friendly with the other neighbors. I guess being friendly can have its draw-backs. Still, we don't have any "condo-Nazis" in the building. That's why I'm hesitant to bring this to the board meeting.

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